Tommie R. Shelton v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: June 24, 2019
• Docket: 18A-CR-2802
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Memorandum Decision shall not be FILED regarded as precedent or cited before any Jun 24 2019, 8:36 am court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK the defense of res judicata, collateral Indiana Supreme Court Court of Appeals estoppel, or the law of the case. and Tax Court

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE Karen Celestino-Horseman Curtis T. Hill, Jr. Of Counsel, Austin & Jones, P.C. Attorney General of Indiana Indianapolis, Indiana Robert A. Rowlett Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Tommie R. Shelton, June 24, 2019 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 18A-CR-2802 v. Appeal from the Marion Superior Court State of Indiana, The Honorable Lisa F. Borges, Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge Trial Court Cause No. 49G04-1701-F5-1203

Brown, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2802 | June 24, 2019 Page 1 of 11 [1] Tommie R. Shelton appeals the revocation of his placement in community

corrections. We affirm.

Facts and Procedural History

[2] On January 10, 2017, Shelton was charged with Count 1, battery resulting in

bodily injury to a person less than fourteen years of age as a level 5 felony;

Count 2, domestic battery as a level 6 felony; and Count 3, battery resulting in

bodily injury as a class A misdemeanor. A jury found him guilty of Counts 1

and 2, and the court sentenced him to six years with one year suspended for

Count 1 and to two years for Count 2 to be served concurrently. On March 1,

2018, the Community Transition Program (“CTP”) filed a Screening Memo

recommending that he be placed into CTP and “initially . . . into the Work

Release component and moved to other components at the direction of

Community Corrections staff.” 1 Appellant’s Appendix Volume II at 79. On

July 6, 2018, Marion County Community Corrections (“MCCC”) filed a

Notice of Community Corrections Violation indicating that Shelton: “1. on

7/6/2018, failed to comply with the rules and regulations” of MCCC, and “2.

failed to comply with [his] monetary obligation.” Id. at 101. The notice further

stated he was refusing to sign a medical release of information so that staff at

Duvall Residential Center (“DRC”) could effectively communicate with outside

1 In its sentencing order, the court initially ordered that he serve the first two years of the executed sentence for Count 1 in the Indiana Department of Correction followed by three years in Marion County Community Corrections “in a component deemed appropriate with movement as deemed appropriate by the agency.” Appellant’s Appendix Volume II at 49.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2802 | June 24, 2019 Page 2 of 11 medical providers on his behalf, that physicians were prescribing medications

and he was not taking them as prescribed, and that, “[a]t this time, [he] is

refusing medical assistance and employment.” Id. On July 11, 2018, a Notice

of Probation Violation was filed. On August 3, 2018, an Agreed Entry on

MCCC Violation/Probation Violation was filed which indicated that Shelton

agreed with the allegations “on CCV 1 & 2, VOP 1,” that “Community

Corrections placement continued with component: deemed appropriate by

Community Corrections or as follows: work release w/ medical release, strict

compliance,” and “Continued on Probation for upon [sic] completion of

executed sentence with added conditions: strict compliance.” Id. at 116.

[3] On September 28, 2018, MCCC filed a second Notice of Community

Corrections Violation indicating that Shelton: “1. failed to comply with [DRC]

rules and regulations regarding refusing employment and/or the opportunity to

seek employment” and “2. failed to comply with DRC rules and regulations

regarding refusing a mandatory program.” Id. at 129. On October 3, 2018, a

second Notice of Probation Violation was filed and, on October 26, 2018, the

court held a hearing on the alleged violations. Shelton’s counsel indicated that

Shelton was able to make an admission with explanation to the second

allegation but was unable to make an admission to its first allegation. Patricia

Montgomery, a DRC Employment Specialist, testified that employment is

required for residents and answered in the negative when asked “outside of

medical issues, is there any reason why anyone staying at [DRC] would not be

required to work.” Transcript Volume II at 7. In describing efforts to obtain

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2802 | June 24, 2019 Page 3 of 11 employment for Shelton, she testified regarding three interviews that she had

sent him on in August and September 2018, stated that she received a call from

an employer “before . . . the interview was even completed” and was told that

Shelton had “pulled a recliner off their floor and said that he could not stand,”

and indicated that he had told another employer that he was not able to work

and that he could not stand. Id. at 8. She indicated that she met with him after

the second of the three interviews and told him that he was going to need to

find employment and that Shelton informed her “that not only was he not

working anywhere in America, he was gonna sit on his bunk” and “collect

disability,” “was not going to help clean,” “was not going to do anything,” and

“was not gonna attend any” DRC classes. Id. at 9.

[4] Shannon Bowling, a DRC manager, testified that she had contact with doctors

who treated him and that, at some point, Dr. Sharma “out of IU Ambulatory”

was speaking with Nurse Trina Cornett, she was asked to participate in the

phone call, and Dr. Sharma was placed on speakerphone

where he informed us that there is no medical reason that [Shelton] is unable to work. There may be stipulations, but those would not be able to be confirmed because [Shelton] was not taking his required medication that he should be taking so they could tell what degree anything was affecting him. So he was not in compliance with his medical treatment.

Id. at 15. When asked if, “at that point in time, . . . the doctor ha[d] any

restrictions for [Shelton] as far as work” she answered in the negative, and in

response to being asked if “the doctor had cleared him to do any and all work,”

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2802 | June 24, 2019 Page 4 of 11 she stated “[a]bsolutely.” Id. She indicated that she had many one-on-one

conversations with Shelton explaining that, unless there was documentation

that he was disabled, he would need to go to work.

[5] Nurse Cornett testified that she had an LPN license for eighteen years; that

DRC had not received a disability statement from Shelton; that he cannot

provide anything stating he cannot work; and that she and Bowling were

present “with Dr. Sharma [during] his visit.” Id. at 20. She was asked if, at this

point in time, any documentation had been received that would prevent him

from working, and she stated, “Having a disability statement. When we spoke

with Dr. Sharma on the phone, he did say [Bowling] had said reiterated to –.”

Id. at 21. Shelton’s counsel then objected on a hearsay basis to what Dr.

Sharma had said, the court overruled the objection, and Nurse Cornett testified

“Dr. Sharma said – [Bowling] had said, you know, he’d be able to get a job

whenever – any place in the community and he understood that.” Id. After

stating that Shelton “had lots of problems” with not obtaining medication for

pain management, Nurse Cornett indicated she had brought a copy of his

medication administration record, which was later admitted without objection

and showed when medication prescribed by a physician was taken, and that

how often he took the medication “varies month to month” with “no

consistency.” Id. at 21-22. When asked if that “create[d] a problem when

you’re not consistent with pain medication,” she responded affirmatively and

stated “it’s hard for the doctor to do an evaluation based on the medication

you’re taking or not taking.” Id. at 22. During cross-examination the court

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2802 | June 24, 2019 Page 5 of 11 asked Nurse Cornett “with all of these visits back and forth” if there “was ever a

communication to you of a diagnosis made,” and she responded in the

negative. Id. at 26. Defendant’s Exhibit B, a letter dated May 17, 2018, and

signed by Ann D. Zerr, M.D., was admitted, and states that Shelton “is having

significant pain and morning stiffness” and “is being evaluated for serious forms

of arthritis” and that “[f]or the next two weeks he is only able to stand or walk

for 15 minutes at a time.” Exhibits Volume at 6.

[6] The court found Shelton “uncooperative with” DRC in “providing them with

requested documents,” that he “did not comply even after the Court had to

intervene without pressure from the management” at DRC, and that he was

disrespectful with staff. Transcript Volume II at 59. Finding him in violation, it

ordered the “four years of backup time” be executed at the DOC. Id. at 60.

Discussion

[7] Shelton first argues that the trial court abused its discretion and committed

fundamental error in admitting certain hearsay statements. Generally, we review

the trial court’s ruling on the admission or exclusion of evidence for an abuse of

discretion. Roche v. State, 690 N.E.2d 1115, 1134 (Ind. 1997), reh’g denied. We

reverse only where the decision is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts

and circumstances. Joyner v. State, 678 N.E.2d 386, 390 (Ind. 1997), reh’g denied.

Even if the trial court’s decision was an abuse of discretion, we will not reverse if

the admission constituted harmless error. Fox v. State, 717 N.E.2d 957, 966 (Ind.

Ct. App. 1999), reh’g denied, trans. denied. We further note that failure to object to

the admission of evidence normally results in waiver and precludes appellate Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2802 | June 24, 2019 Page 6 of 11 review unless its admission constitutes fundamental error. See Whatley v. State,

908 N.E.2d 276, 280 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009) (citing Cutter v. State, 725 N.E.2d 401,

406 (Ind. 2000), reh’g denied), trans. denied. To rise to the level of fundamental

error, an error “must constitute a blatant violation of basic principles, the harm or

potential for harm must be substantial, and the resulting error must deny the

defendant fundamental due process.” Id. (citing Maul v. State, 731 N.E.2d 438,

440 (Ind. 2000) (citations omitted)).

[8] Shelton contends that the hearsay statements of Dr. Sharma were the centerpiece

of the State’s arguments “that [he] failed to take the pain medications so he could

be evaluated and that he could work any job,” which he asserts serve as the

primary bases upon which the court found that he had violated MCCC rules.

Appellant’s Brief at 9. He argues he was denied due process as he was unable to

cross-examine Dr. Sharma, contends that the admission of the testimony was

not harmless under a federal harmless error analysis, and asserts that a failure to

object at the hearing constitutes fundamental error. The State argues that no

error occurred as the court did not rely on Dr. Sharma’s second statement.

[9] For purposes of appellate review, we treat a hearing on a petition to revoke

placement in a community corrections program the same as we do a hearing on

a petition to revoke probation. Cox v. State, 706 N.E.2d 547, 549 (Ind. 1999),

reh’g denied. Our standard of review of an appeal from the revocation of a

community corrections placement mirrors that for revocation of probation. Id.

at 551. The Due Process Clause applies to probation revocation hearings.

Reyes v. State, 868 N.E.2d 438, 440 (Ind. 2007) (citing Gagnon v. Scarpelli, 411

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2802 | June 24, 2019 Page 7 of 11 U.S. 778, 782, 93 S. Ct. 1756 (1973)), reh’g denied. “But there is no right to

probation: the trial court has discretion whether to grant it, under what

conditions, and whether to revoke it if conditions are violated.” Id. “It should

not surprise, then, that probationers do not receive the same constitutional

rights that defendants receive at trial.” Id. The due process right applicable in

probation revocation hearings allows for procedures that are more flexible than

in a criminal prosecution. Id. Such flexibility allows courts to enforce lawful

orders, address an offender’s personal circumstances, and protect public safety,

sometimes within limited time periods. Id. Within this framework, and to

promote the aforementioned goals of a probation revocation hearing, courts

may admit evidence during probation revocation hearings that would not be

permitted in a full-blown criminal trial. Id. “This does not mean that hearsay

evidence may be admitted willy-nilly in a probation revocation hearing.” Id.

[10] In Reyes, the Indiana Supreme Court adopted the substantial trustworthiness

test for determining the hearsay evidence that should be admitted at a probation

revocation hearing. Id. at 441. This test requires that the trial court evaluate

the reliability of the hearsay evidence. Id. at 442. In adopting it, the Court

noted the “need for flexibility combined with the potentially onerous

consequences of mandating a balancing inquiry for every piece of hearsay

evidence in every probation revocation hearing” and stated that there was “no

reason to require that the State expend its resources to demonstrate that its

interest in not producing the declarant outweighs the probationer’s interest in

confronting the same . . . [or] to produce a witness . . . to give routine testimony

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2802 | June 24, 2019 Page 8 of 11 . . . when a reliable piece of hearsay evidence is available as a substitute.” Id. at

441-442.

[11] We note that Shelton failed to object to the admission of Bowling’s testimony

when she first mentioned Dr. Sharma and described a conversation with him.

To the extent that Shelton has not waived the issue, we also note that, while the

preference is for the trial court to make a determination of substantial

trustworthiness on the record, the failure to do so is not fatal where the record

supports such a determination. See id. at 442 (affirming trial court’s admission

of affidavits in probation revocation despite the court’s failure to provide

detailed explanation on record, because evidence supported substantial

trustworthiness of affidavits). Our review of the record reveals that

Montgomery testified that employment was required for DRC residents and

that no reason beyond medical issues would remove the requirement. Nurse

Cornett indicated that Shelton could not provide anything which states he could

not work. She additionally testified that she and Bowling were present with Dr.

Sharma and that he had made a statement about what Bowling had said or

reiterated. Bowling testified that she participated in a call with Dr. Sharma in

which he stated that there was no medical reason Shelton could not work. She

further indicated that the doctor did not have any work restrictions for Shelton

and had cleared him to do any and all work, and she testified that she had

conversations with Shelton and explained that he would need to go to work

unless there was documentation that he could not. Based upon the record, and

in light of the fact that both Bowling and Nurse Cornett testified at the

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2802 | June 24, 2019 Page 9 of 11 placement revocation hearing, we conclude that sufficient information was

presented to deem the alleged hearsay statements substantially trustworthy.

[12] Further, when the court found that the State had met its burden of proving a

violation, it noted that work release was not a good fit “[p]rimarily because of

his attitude,” which it found had “made it impossible to continue” at DRC.

Transcript Volume II at 60. The hearsay statements of Dr. Sharma concerned a

medical exception to the work requirement and not Shelton’s attitude while at

DRC. We cannot say the court abused its discretion or committed fundamental

error in admitting the challenged testimony.

[13] Shelton next argues that the evidence is insufficient to revoke his placement in

community corrections. He contends that the State’s evidence centered on the

alleged hearsay statements that he could not be evaluated because he was

willfully not taking two medications, that the State’s records indicated that one

pain medication was prescribed to be taken only as needed and another was not

prescribed until after the alleged conversation with Dr. Sharma, and that the

evidence was insufficient to show that he willfully failed to take medication so

as to prevent his functionality from being evaluated. The State argues that the

court relied on sufficient evidence of Shelton’s combative attitude and

unwillingness to comply with the DRC residential and employment rules, and

maintains that he had already violated probation once and had been placed on

strict compliance.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2802 | June 24, 2019 Page 10 of 11 [14] Placement in community corrections is at the sole discretion of the trial court.

Toomey v. State, 887 N.E.2d 122, 124 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008) (citing Ind. Code §

35-38-2.6-3(a) (a court “may . . . order a person to be placed in a community

corrections program as an alternative to commitment to the department of

correction”)). Like a probation hearing, a hearing on a petition to revoke

placement is civil in nature and the State need prove the alleged violations by

only a preponderance of the evidence. See id. at 551. We consider all the

evidence most favorable to supporting the judgment of the trial court without

reweighing that evidence or judging the credibility of witnesses. Id. If there is

substantial evidence of probative value to support the trial court’s conclusion,

we will affirm its decision. Id. The evidence supports the court’s findings that

Shelton was uncooperative with DRC in providing requested documentation;

that he was uncooperative after having previously refused to sign medical

documentation and after the court’s order which added the condition of strict

compliance; and that he did not comply with the court’s order without pressure

from DRC management. Based upon the facts most favorable to the trial

court’s decision, we conclude the State proved the alleged violations by a

preponderance of the evidence.

[15] For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court’s order revoking Shelton’s

community corrections placement.

[16] Affirmed.

May, J., and Mathias, J., concur.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-2802 | June 24, 2019 Page 11 of 11